Monthly Archives: April 2017

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Do you get together with your neighbors on a regular basis? If the answer is no, you’re not alone—according to a 2015 study, only 20 percent of Americans regularly spend time with their neighbors, and a third of the country’s population has never interacted with neighbors. At Levitt, we always encourage people to get to know one another, whether that’s through enjoying free concerts together or through other kinds of community-building activities.

That’s why we love the idea behind Neighborday, a holiday devised seven years ago by media company GOOD to inspire Americans to reach out to folks living next door and plan a communal activity. A block party is one idea, but GOOD offers several other creative ways to forge friendships and build community pride within our neighborhoods. Here are four activities that you and your neighbors can put together just in time for Neighborday on April 29!

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Jimmy Webb performing at Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles in 2013

After five decades of writing some of pop’s most iconic songs, Jimmy Webb is not showing signs of slowing down. The songwriter has become a book author, currently touring America to promote his just-released memoir, The Cake and The Rain, a title inspired by lyrics from the hit 1968 song he penned (and was first recorded by Richard Harris), “MacArthur Park.” We at Levitt know the song well—Webb has performed it twice (in 2013 and 2016) at Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles, which sits in the very park that inspired the ballad!

Webb’s prolific career writing storytelling lyrics about the American experience has earned him the apt nickname of “America’s Songwriter,” with songs including the hits “Galveston” (1969) and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” (1967). You’ve likely heard one of the thousands of records that feature his songs, from some of the country’s biggest acts of the 20th century like Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Nina Simone, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer.

To celebrate Webb’s legacy as he tours the country, here are five fun facts you might not have known about the living legend. Continue reading

This week, we’ve launched the 2017 Levitt AMP Music Series website—your go-to resource for lineups, artist bios and all things Levitt AMP—and the 2017 Levitt AMP artist lineups have started rollin’ in!

Check out who’ll be performing at this year’s Levitt AMP Jacksonville Music Series and be sure to stay tuned for upcoming lineup announcements for DenisonSanta Fe, Ocala and Carson City!

Artists pictured above (L to R, from top to bottom): Vandoliers, Unifyah and Mathis & The Pirates, Waterloo Revival, Old Salt Union, Curley Taylor, Ptah Williams, The South Austin Moonlighters, The Trip Daddy's, Dirty Revival, and Marquise Knox ft. Renee Smith.

Artists pictured above (L to R, from top to bottom): Vandoliers, Unifyah and Mathias & The Pirates, Waterloo Revival, Old Salt Union, Curley Taylor, The South Austin Moonlighters, Ptah Williams, The Trip Daddy’s, Dirty Revival, and Marquise Knox ft. Renee Smith.

Starting June 2 with the Vandoliers, an alt-country band with punk roots, the Levitt AMP Jacksonville Music Series will present 10 weeks of free, live music in Central Park—fueling the city’s efforts to revitalize the formerly neglected historic central business district and bringing the joy of free, live music back to Central Park. See the full lineup, featuring Dirty Revival, Curley Taylor, Marquise Knox and more.

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Barbara Morrison performing at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena in 2014

This month, we’re listening to wailing saxophones, mesmerizing piano arpeggios and groovy drum rhythms. That’s right—we’ve got jazz on our minds and in our ears as Jazz Appreciation Month kicks off! Influenced by blues music and other musical styles originating in African American communities, the jazz genre started permeating dance clubs and bars in the early 20th century, and with the venues’ increased popularity during the prohibition era, the Jazz Age of the 1920s was born. Since then, the original swinging form of jazz has expanded into numerous subgenres, from bebop to Latin Jazz, tapping into the improvisational talents of musicians of all kinds.

Levitt venues have seen many a jazz artist grace their stages, each with a unique take on this rich genre. Some of these acts have even performed alongside jazz’s most influential musicians and are major players in their own right, having made significant contributions to the genre. While it’s impossible to choose our favorite jazz acts, here are four to start with—all of whom played Levitt stages over the years! Continue reading

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We take great pride in the fact that Levitt lawns across the country serve as places where those of all ages, backgrounds and breeds can come together and enjoy free, live music. Today we are deepening our commitment to providing a welcoming atmosphere for all our concertgoers—people and pets alike—with our Pet Clothing Requirement, which will go into effect at the start of the 2017 Levitt concert season. Continue reading